WWII veteran in a class by himself

by Danielle Radford Landmark correspondent

State reps Harold Naughton (l.) and Lew Evangelidis congratulate Don Woodcock on receiving his diploma. Sterling - When Don Woodcock was a 16-year-old student at Leominster High School, he made one of the biggest decisions of his life. He joined the Navy and went off to fight for his country in World War II, leaving behind his town, his youth and his carefree high school days.

"I had to get my father's permission," Woodcock said. "My older brother was in the Army, and he wrote me a letter. He said 'Don, don't wait for the draft. Go and join up in the Navy. You don't want to sleep in foxholes.' So I hopped on a train and went to Boston."

He was a resident of Sterling at the time, and now resides in Auburn with his wife, Marion. Woodcock never received his diploma with his classmates at graduation. Now, 64 years later, a week after his 80th birthday, he finally has.

Woodcock was presented with his diploma after the Veterans Day parade and program in Sterling last Saturday. State representatives Harold Naughton Jr. (D-Clinton) and Lewis Evangelidis (R-Holden) were on hand not only for the parade, but also to extend their congratulations to Woodcock and his family. Naughton and Evangelidis were integral supporters in getting a legislative bill signed allowing high schools to award diplomas to veterans who would have received them on time, had they not gone off to war.

"We must never forget those who have not come back, and those who do come back," said Naughton during the post-parade program. Evangelidis added, "Don is a real hero in America. He was a part of a generation that would actually leave school before they graduated and give service to their country."

Woodcock had only finished his sophomore year of high school when he went off to the Navy, and never looked back. Stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas at the Naval Air Force Training Academy, he was fortunate enough never to have gone overseas.

"I think the military made up for [being away from home]," he said. " In school at that time, you learned to get along with your classmates. I think the military draws you in even a little closer. You are away from home at such a young age, and I grew up fast."

Above, the colors fly and the soldiers salute at the Sterling Veterans Day parade on Saturday. Left, West Boylston Legion Post #204 Chaplain Pete Rotando in a serious moment at the ceremonies. Asked what he will do with his diploma, Woodcock said, "Probably go home and frame it. Whoever is responsible, I want to thank them tremendously. I have often thought I would like to pursue it. It feels wonderful."

Turns out, fellow vet and legionnaire Roland Nelson and Woodcock's son-in-law Don Temple, the parade marshal, were in charge of organizing the event and obtaining the diploma to present to Woodcock.

"Donny [Temple] is his son-in-law, and it has been bothering him for a while," said Nelson. "Donny and I are pretty good friends, and he asked me to do the paperwork. I contacted the high school, and they sent me paperwork to sign. We had to go back to Marion to get his birth date to figure out an approximate time that he would have graduated."

Marion, 75, Woodcock's wife of 55 years, beamed as she stood by her husband and other family members. "I am very proud of him," she said. "It is wonderful to have our family here to share this with us. Ever since he got out of the service, Don has been active in the American Legion, and I am active in the auxiliary. We are always in the parade every Veterans Day."

Don and Marion met through their parents, who were friends when the two were growing up. Also on hand were Woodcock's sister, Sterling resident Madge Courtney, 81, and his eldest granddaughter Margaret Araujo from California, also a member of the American Legion.

"I had tears in my eyes seeing him up there," Courtney said. "What a wonderful day."

When Don Woodcock was given his diploma, the longago Navy man said simply, "I want to thank everyone for coming today. It's so important - for Veterans Day."